The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae is a dangerous polyphagous pest of agricultural and ornamental plants. In a commercial greenhouse treated with acaricides or biological control using predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis individual varieties of roses differed significantly in terms of the average annual infestation by the pest mite. On the poorly populated rose varieties, the biological control agent application was more effective as compared to the acaricides. To effectively control the pest, the required predatory mite rates were 4.6–8.7 times higher on varieties with a minimal spider mite infestation (Aqua and Deep Water) as compared to the maximal pest infestation (Heaven and Brazil).
Predatory mites Amblyseius swirskii and Neoseiulus cucumeris are considered as effective biocontrol agents against whitefly and thrips in indoors on vegetable crops. Our goal was to assess the effect of these predatory mites on whitefly density on roses indoors in the North-West of Russia. Result showed that the dynamics of the pest population is affected not only by the predator release rate, but also by the time between introductions and their frequency. There was no difference between two species, except one case, when temperatures had risen above 27°C and consequently A. swirskii had a bigger impact on whiteflies than N. cucumeris.
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